On 15 and 16 June 2023, in Zaragoza, Spain, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andris Pelšs, attended the Informal Meeting of State Secretaries and Secretaries-General of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the European Union. The meeting was organised by Ángeles Moreno Bau, State Secretary of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the country’s incoming presidency of the Council of the EU, and Stefano Sannino, Secretary-General of the European External Action Service (EEAS).
The discussion focused on EU security and defence policy. In response to the Russian Federation's war in Ukraine, the EU has developed a series of initiatives to support Ukraine while strengthening the long-term security of EU Member States and the EU as a whole. Member States were unanimous on the need to support Ukraine in all possible ways. At the same time, officials in the discussion supported further EU cooperation with the Global South, Africa, Latin America and other partners, promoting a rules-based international order.
Andris Pelšs called for further work on EU initiatives to strengthen the military industry and noted the need to take decisions on how to finance Ukraine's reconstruction in the longer term. The State Secretary agreed on the need to work with partners in Africa and Latin America, and he also provided information on Latvia's experience in recent visits to the regions.
At the meeting, the State Secretary of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ángeles Moreno-Bau, presented the priorities of the Presidency of the Council of the EU, while the EEAS Secretary-General discussed with member states current issues in the personnel policy of the EU institutions.